Telomeres are sections of DNA that tell an interesting story about lifespan. Shorter telomeres usually suggest a shorter life -- but new research by a Wilmot lung cancer expert shows that longer telomeres might be a promising biomarker for a recurrence of early stage lung cancer.

A recent study by University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry researchers published in the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry begins to unravel the relationship between metabolic syndrome, frailty and cognition. The authors found that having metabolic syndrome significantly increased the chances of becoming physically frailer and slower in cognitive abilities, such as slower in recalling something that happened half an hour ago.

In a recent study in Science, Mark Dumont, Ph.D. describes the structure of a specific membrane protein in yeast. Humans have a very similar protein that, when mutated, causes a premature aging disorder called progeria. The finding will not only help scientists design a drug or other treatment for this devastating disorder, but learn more about the human aging process as well.

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The goal of this blog is to bring more medical research stories to light and provide our readers with timely and engaging coverage of scientific and medical developments here in Rochester and beyond.

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